Bill Kristol Column Worse Than Non-Existent Krugman Column
Now that Barack Obama's victory appears pretty likely, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman must be drinking alone in his apartment, even though he knows the Obama health care plan will not cover his psoriasis later in life. Get well soon, you sad panda. Anyway, guess what "lightning rod conservative" columnist Bill Kristol thinks about Barack Obama's hatred of America?
Remember how several years ago, Barack decided not to wear a flag pin on his lapel because of some terrorist reason? This terrorist reason ("t-reason") was this, just in case:
Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest.
If you're Bill Kristol, now would be the perfect time to rehash this as a bad thing, again:
Leave aside the claim that "speaking out on issues" constitutes true patriotism. What's striking is that Obama couldn't resist a grandiose explanation. Obama's unnecessary and imprudent statement impugns the sincerity or intelligence of those vulgar sorts who still choose to wear a flag pin. But moral vanity prevailed. He wanted to explain that he was too good -- too patriotic! -- to wear a flag pin on his chest.
Aside from the fact that Kristol comes at this from his usual, uh, wrong angle, we're going to have to -- sorry! -- agree with him . Sort of.
Last night, CNN.com put up a poll asking the following: "Does Barack Obama show the proper patriotism for someone who wants to be president of the United States?" That's one hell of a stupid poll from CNN.com, but then again, it is CNN.com. It was probably put together lazily by some hapless intern who was distracted watching the glorious Oscars, but now it's giving a pretty standard Republican attack point some grounding in the Main Stream Media.
Barack could've avoided this completely unnecessary issue by getting over himself and putting on the damn pin. Want to build a permanent coalition, Barry? Suck up the internal monologue, put on your pin, and win over the stupids when it's easy.
It's All About Him [NYT]